Electrical impulse effects on degenerative human annulus fibrosus model to reduce disc pain using micro-electrical impulse-on-a-chip

Sci Rep. 2019 Apr 9;9(1):5827. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-42320-9.

Abstract

Electrical stimulation of cells and tissues for therapeutic benefit is a well-established method. Although animal studies can emulate the complexity of an organism's physiology, lab-on-a-chip platforms provide a suitable primary model for follow-up animal studies. Thus, inexpensive and easy-to-use platforms for in vitro human cell studies are required. In the present study, we designed a micro-electrical impulse (micro-EI)-on-a-chip (micro-EI-chip), which can precisely control electron density and adjust the frequency based on a micro-EI. The micro-EI-chip can stimulate cells at various micro-EI densities (0-500 mV/mm) and frequencies (0-300 Hz), which enables multiple co-culture of different cell types with or without electrical stimulation. As a proof-of-concept study, a model involving degenerative inflamed human annulus fibrosus (hAF) cells was established in vitro and the effects of micro-EI on inflamed hAF cells were evaluated using the micro-EI-chip. Stimulation of the cells (150 mV/mm at 200 Hz) inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and downregulated the activities of extracellular matrix-modifying enzymes and matrix metalloproteinase-1. These results show that micro-EI stimulation could affect degenerative diseases based on inflammation, implicating the micro-EI-chip as being useful for basic research of electroceuticals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Annulus Fibrosus / pathology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Electric Stimulation / methods*
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / therapy
  • Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / pathology
  • Intervertebral Disc Degeneration / therapy*
  • Lab-On-A-Chip Devices
  • Lumbosacral Region / pathology
  • Male
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / metabolism
  • Pain / physiopathology
  • Pain Management / methods*
  • Proof of Concept Study

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • MMP1 protein, human
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 1